Niger Delta

Diri Pays Tributes To Ex-Commissioner, Wife

Published

4 years ago

June 13, 2022

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, last Saturday, paid glowing tributes to the pioneer Commissioner for Finance in Bayelsa State, late Dr. Frederick Wariebi, and his wife, Amanda.
The Tide gathered that the late elder statesman, Wariebi, who hails from Adule-Ama in Amassoma Community, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State, was appointed by the first Military Administrator of Bayelsa, the late Navy Capt. Philip Ayeni, as Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget in 1996 when the State was created.
Speaking at their funeral at the Amassoma Secondary School field, Diri said it was rare to find a husband and wife laid to rest same day and time, describing it as unique.
Diri said although the late Wariebi was wealthy, he had a humble background, stating that it was very rare to find a billionaire of Ijaw extraction decades ago.
The Governor noted that the deceased exemplified selflessness when he had the opportunity of becoming the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa but declined and gave his support to the late Chief Diepriye Alamieyeseigha.
He said the singular act was a strong message to many that when they preached love, the late Wariebi expressed it.
“We join the Wariebi families to mourn and, more importantly, to celebrate the passage of their patriarch and matriarch. It is very rare to find a husband and wife lying-in-state the same time and the same day. To the children, you are blessed because you had a father and mother from a very rich but yet humble background.
“We all know the story of a billionaire of Ijaw extraction from Amassoma. In those good old days, it was rare to find a billionaire of Ijaw extraction. Yet we had a Jones Wariebi that was a billionaire in faraway Liberia and his children were so humble that when they came back home, they served their state and country. Today, we have one of them as a serving Commissioner for Water Resources.
“You heard from our leader and father, the former National Chairman of the PDP who Elder Wariebi was, a man that was tested and overcame. It is very rare to find any of us today having that kind of test and opportunity to become governor of a state with a serving military government behind you and yet you will say give it to my brother, Alamieyeseigha.
“That is a massage to all of us that we must at all times be our brother’s keeper. When we preach love, Fred Wariebi has shown love. It is not enough that you preach, it is enough that you practice it”, he said.
The Governor said henceforth, anyone who served in the State Executive Council as Commissioner will be honoured with a valedictory session in the Executive Chambers.
While commiserating with the children of the deceased, Senator Diri urged them to live by their parents’ examples and contribute more to the development of their family, community, state and country.
Speaking earlier, Prince Uche Secondus described the late Wariebi as a very straight-forward and upright politician, who was instrumental to the emergence of late Chief Alamieyeseigha as the first civilian Governor of the State.
Secondus promised to continue the legacies of the deceased whom he said he worked closely with in the old Rivers State.
In a sermon, Pastor of the Amazing Grace Model Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Port Harcourt, Gilbert Lysias, said death is by divine decree and that no matter the power one wields, no man can stop it.
Pastor Lysias said life continues after death but noted that there was no second chance after death, this was even as he advised the living to give their lives to Christ as there is no opportunity for repentance after death.
In his remarks, the eldest son of the deceased and the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Kemebradikumo Wariebi, thanked Governor Diri for honouring the memories of their parents with the full presence of the state government.
He described his father and mother as shining examples not only to himself and his siblings but the society at large, promising to live by their principles in his relationship with others.
The Tide reports that the late Wariebi died at the age of 77.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

4 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

5 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

5 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.